Archaeologica.org

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23947820

A team from the UK found that the transformation from a land of disparate farmers into a state ruled by a king was more rapid than previously thought.

Using radiocarbon dating and computer models, they believe the civilisation's first ruler - King Aha - came to power in about 3100BC.

That's great! I need to really look into this tomorrow...

The full text of the report.

http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/ ... l.pdf+html

One has to wonder if the geography of Egypt led to the relative ease of establishing a new political entity. One guy with delusions of grandeur simply starts out by annexing the villages north and south of him and keeps going. Everyone was within a couple of miles of the river. No mountains to cross at all...not any large tributary rivers to cross. Just an open and fairly indefensible flood plain. Piece of cake.

Or, the farmers along the river plain find themselves being raided by bands of pastoralist nomads from the fringe and find they've got to unite to defend themselves.

Somebody always starts it, and once it's started, it turns into Tar Baby.